With Sir Alex Ferguson ready to call it a career, the Wayne Rooney saga will inevitably take a different turn than if the Scotsman were to stay on at Old Trafford.

It’s been a very up and down time for Rooney at Manchester United, coming over from Everton at just 18 years old with massive expectations due to both his price and his nationality.

That pressure has never alleviated, and continues to poke and prod Rooney as he meanders his career for both club and country. News outlets constantly put out articles debating whether Rooney has been a valuable asset or an underperforming waste on the pitch, and even former managers have made comments urging him to improve his form.

United legend Sir Bobby Charlton said of Rooney this year, “I don’t know everything that happens at Manchester United but I know a little. Wayne Rooney maybe has had an injury and has not performed as well as he might have done, but that doesn’t mean to say that you get rid of him.” Hardly a statement of support for a striker who’s scored nearly 200 goals for the club.

However, now that his longtime manager is set to retire, what will Rooney do next? Many rumors are flying about his possible exit from Old Trafford. Articles have suggested he could jump on the Bayern Munich bandwagon, or the overhaul at Stamford Bridge imminent this summer could swoop Rooney up.

Remember, people like to talk at a crossroads such as this.

It seems all too likely that his new boss at United will be his old one – David Moyes – who gave the striker his very first Premier League chance at Goodison Park back in 2002. Will that have an impact on whether Rooney decides to stay?

Just tonight, chief soccer writer for The Guardian Daniel Taylor tweeted that Rooney has asked to leave but the request was turned down. A few minutes later David McDonnell, a correspondent for The Mirror in Manchester, tweeted that United has indeed confirmed the rumor.

Man Utd confirmed Rooney went to Ferguson a fortnight ago, asked to leave this summer and had his request turned down #MUFC— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) May 08, 2013

This season for Manchester United, Rooney’s made 27 appearances, 22 of those starts. In Barclays Premier League matches which Rooney has scored or assisted a goal this year, United have 12 wins to 1 loss (92% win). In league matches where Rooney did not start, United won 10, drew 1, and lost 3 (71% win).

What will befall the mercurial striker this summer? Through all the ups and downs, the Champions League and the Premier League, Wayne Rooney has been a talking point at Old Trafford for various reasons. Will they talk about his departure or his loyalty after the dust settles on Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement?

The suffering Swans have had their share of poor performances this season — Clement later said January transfer spending “is a must” if the club wants to stay up — but he’s throwing his hands up in the air when it comes to Wednesday’s loss at the Liberty Stadium.

“At times it was horrible to be on the sideline watching that, seeing my side trying but suffering for long periods. They’re not the games that will decide our season but it was hard to watch at times because they were so dominant. For me, one of the best sides I’ve ever come across. So many good athletes, so many intelligent footballers and it’s really hard to pin them down. We actually had some attempts on their goal so I’m disappointed we didn’t get on the score sheet but they were a far superior side to us. We’ve got to put it aside that game. We’ve got Everton away (next) and we’ve got to try and pick something up there.”

All that’s left is for Clement to pick up a clarinet, awkwardly blow into it, then point at Pep Guardiola and say, “He’s good.”

United didn’t have it’s A-game, but that was okay thanks to fine defensive play from star backstop David De Gea and some gutsy tackles from Phil Jones. The goal came when Juan Mata‘s cross was nodded home by Romelu Lukaku in the 25th minute, and United rode that marker for all it was worth to stay three points ahead of third place Chelsea.

How good is Man City? Pep Guardiola‘s bunch have now won a Premier League record 15-straight in a single season, and have scored 52 goals while conceding just 11. Markers 49-52 came from David Silva (two), Kevin De Bruyne, and Sergio Aguero. Tottenham is next.

A ball bounded off Ahmed Hegazi’s body, and off Dominic Solanke‘s body and forearm to give Liverpool its presumed breakthrough, but the call was intentional handball. The Reds had myriad chances to score before that, but instead hand a point to the visiting Baggies.

The chances were there for dominant Arsenal, but the winning goal did not materialize at the London Stadium. Marko Arnautovic did everything but score when West Ham did manage the ball, and Javier Hernandez rattled the cage late, but David Moyes men had to settle for a well-earned point.

8 – Eight different clubs have won more points away from home in the Premier League than Arsenal (9) this season – Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool, Burnley, Watford, Leicester & Spurs. Issue. pic.twitter.com/waUWHXCws6

Spurs are back in the Top Four thanks to a long Serge Aurier cross that fooled Mat Ryan and a Heung-Min Son deflection of a Christian Eriksen offering. Brighton’s just three points away from the drop zone with the loss.

Claude Puel‘s Foxes are flying, scoring goals for fun and encroaching on the Top Four after a horrible start to the Premier League season. Shinji Okazaki bagged his first Premier League brace, while Andy King and Riyad Mahrez also scored for Leicester, who is within five points of fourth and next faces Crystal Palace. Southampton’s goal came from Maya Yoshida.

1 – This is the first time that two Japanese players have scored for opposing sides in the history of the Premier League. Answer. https://t.co/HOApDbofnv

Wenger was content enough with the result, as he continued to be in the chorus of managers who lament the congested Premier League schedule around the holidays. From the BBC:

“We had so much of the ball, but it was very frustrating because we could even have lost it at the end. They’re happy to defend, they did that against Chelsea and Manchester City, so we couldn’t find the opening and the few chances we had we missed.

…

“When you play every three days, you lose your sharpness.”

That’s true, and to his credit Wenger didn’t try to say West Ham had one day’s more rest (which they did). As Man City runs away with the league and Manchester United doesn’t look fit to drop back to the back, the race for the final two Top Four spots is as congested as the schedule. Arsenal needs to turn some of its shot-heavy performances into goal-heavy cruises sometime soon.